DyeWorks_proof2 THE COBOURG DYEING COMPANY Design & layout by Quench Design & Communications | Port Hope | www.quenchme.ca A Canadian Northern Ontario Railway spur extended across William Street onto the site, allowing the goods that were dyed to be easily shipped. The operation closed in the early 1950s and stood empty until 1957 when the land was sold to Plastic Profiles which became General Wire and Cable. Play It Again Sports is one of the businesses operating there today. Children would play in Factory Creek that ran beside the factory and would come home different colours depending on what dye was being drained that day. Factory Creek c1910 The Cobourg Dyeing Company appears to have originated as simply a branch of the Woolen Mills located on Tremaine Street. When the Mills was purchased by John Dick in the late 19th or early 20th century, the dyeing department was reported to be about one third of the whole Mills operation. John Dick had also purchased the Cobourg Matting & Carpet Co. Limited located on the east side of William Street. The buildings there had originally housed a brewery operated by John Sinclair Wallace and later by the Burnet family. It was not until 1913 that Dick had the dyeing operation separately incorporated as the Cobourg Dyeing Company. For reasons unclear, though possibly to consolidate the manufacturing operations, Dick then moved the Dying Company to the site of the matting factory and moved the matting factory down to Tremaine Street. John placed his son, Captain David Campbell Dick, in charge of the dyeing operation where he continued until 1943, when he stepped down for health reasons. Captain Dick was involved in the military as well as local industry. During the Second World War he was the Wool Administrator on the Wartime Prices and Trade Board with sweeping powers over the import, export and manufacture of wool and woolen products. He was recognized in the London Gazette for his contributions. Captain David Campbell Dick Roll of Service 1914-1919 / The War Book of Upper Canada College (1923) Cobourg; an interesting souvenir booklet described the Cobourg Dyeing Company this way in 1943: Established in 1913. This well equipped and modern plant specializes in dyeing and finishing woollen and worsted piece goods on a quantity production basis for the weaving, jobbing and cutting up trades. Cobourg Dyed; a symbol of quality.